Florida Beverage Legislation: 2017 Pre-Session Review of Beverage Bills

The 2017 Session of the Florida Legislature will include consideration of 16 beverage-related bills.

The 2017 regular session of the Florida Legislature kicks off Tuesday, March 7, 2017. This 2-month session will see the consideration of 16 bills that could affect the Florida beverage industry as soon as July. While it is unlikely that all of these bills will reach a floor vote, one of them–Senate Bill 106–is already close to getting a full vote.

For a refresher on how a bill goes from being introduced to becoming law in Florida, check out the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association’s excellent summary called Understanding Florida’s Legislative Process.

The following chart provides a summary of the bills. We’ll check back in on the status of these bills at the session’s midpoint.

Bill #	Sponsor	Companion	Summary	Status
HB 81	Avila	SB 106	Eliminates the single-purpose restriction on package stores. Allows employment of minors at stores that derive less than 30% of revenue from sale of alcoholic beverages.	Referred to Careers and Competition Subcommittee; Government Operations and Technology Appropriations Subcommittee; Commerce Committee Favorable by Careers and Competition Subcommittee; YEAS 8 NAYS 7 On Committee agenda– Government Operations and Technology Appropriations Subcommittee, 03/07/17, 1:00 pm, Morris Hall
HB 141	Stevenson	SB 166	Allows craft distilleries to have tasting rooms. Allows certified Florida Craft Distilleries to conduct tastings and sales at fairs, trade shows, expositions, and festivals. Reduces annual license fee to $1,000 for craft distilleries.	Referred to Careers and Competition Subcommittee, Ways and Means Committee, and Commerce Committee
HB 423	La Rosa	SB 388	Prohibits wine retail coupons provided by manufacturer or distributor. Allows breweries and vendors to engage in financial transactions that do not involve the direct sale or distribution of beer between manufacturer and vendor.	Referred Careers and Competition Subcommittee; Government Operations and Technology Appropriations Subcommittee; Commerce Committee
HB 679	Clemons	SB 554	Allows self-distribution of kegs only by breweries that do not have a distribution agreement and product no more than 7,000 half-barrel kegs per year.	Referred to Careers and Competition Subcommittee; Commerce Committee
HB 689	Burton	SB 400	Allows smaller restaurants to qualify for special retail license. Eliminates the temporary license fee on transfer of a license. Reduces the annual license fee for craft distilleries to $1,000.	Referred to Careers and Competition Subcommittee; Ways and Means Committee; Commerce Committee
HB 853	Goodson	SB 1040	Brewery or importer may give branded glassware to vendors for on-premises consumption.	Referred to Careers and Competition Subcommittee; Commerce Committee
HB 983	Altman	SB 1254	Person who knowingly serves a visibly intoxicated person or a minor is liable for injury and damage caused by that person. Service of a minor is deemed to be with knowledge unless the minor provided a government issued ID.	Referred to Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee; Careers and Competition Subcommittee; Judiciary Committee
HB 1069	Brodeur	SB 750	Franchisor may not terminate a franchise except for good cause. Applies to “craft beer franchises.”	Filed
SB 106	Flores	HB 81	Prohibits package stores within 1,000 feet of schools. Eliminates single-purpose restriction for package stores after a specific time period. Allows employment of minors at stores that derive less than 30% of revenue from sale of alcoholic beverages.	Referred to Regulated Industries; Rules CS by Regulated Industries; YEAS 9 NAYS 1 CS/CS by- Rules; YEAS 7 NAYS 4 Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
SB 166	Steube	HB 141	Allows craft distilleries to have tasting rooms. Allows certified Florida Craft Distilleries to conduct tastings and sales at fairs, trade shows, expositions, and festivals.	Referred to Regulated Industries; Commerce and Tourism; Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government; Appropriations CS by Regulated Industries; YEAS 5 NAYS 4 Now in Commerce and Tourism
SB 388	Hutson	HB 423	Prohibits wine retail coupons provided by manufacturer or distributor. Allows breweries and vendors to engage in financial transactions that do not involve the direct sale or distribution of beer between manufacturer and vendor.	Referred to Regulated Industries; Commerce and Tourism; Rules
SB 400	Perry	HB 689	Allows smaller restaurants to qualify for special retail license Eliminates the temporary license fee on transfer of a license Reduces the annual license fee for craft distilleries to $1,000.	Referred to Regulated Industries; Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government; Appropriations On Committee agenda– Regulated Industries, 02/22/17, 12:30 pm, 301 Senate Office Building –Temporarily Postponed
SB 554	Young	HB 679	Allows self-distribution of kegs only by breweries that do not have a distribution agreement and product no more than 7,000 half-barrel kegs per year.	Referred to Regulated Industries; Commerce and Tourism; Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government; Appropriations CS by Regulated Industries; YEAS 6 NAYS 3 Now in Commerce and Tourism
SB 750	Latvala	HB 1069	Protect Florida Small Business Act. Does not apply to brewery-distributor relationship	Referred to Regulated Industries; Judiciary; Rules
SB 1040	Artiles	HB 853	Allows brewery or importer to give vendor branded glassware for on-premises consumption.	Filed
SB 1254	Rouson	HB 983	Person who knowingly serves a visibly intoxicated person or a minor is liable for injury and damage caused by that person. Service of a minor is deemed to be with knowledge unless the minor provided a government issued ID.	Filed

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